Tag: Josh Hart

Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler earns Knicks champion’s praise after 13K Bronx gem

BY: @OOSSports

Saturday, June 20th, 2026

Cam Schlittler

Cam Schlittler delivered the kind of start that makes a city stop and notice.

The New York Yankees right-hander overwhelmed the Cincinnati Reds in a 5-0 win, striking out 13 across six shutout innings. It marked the best regular-season start of his young career and offered another sign that the Yankees may have a legitimate rotation weapon emerging in the Bronx.

The performance also caught the attention of a freshly crowned New York Knicks NBA Finals champion.

Knicks guard Josh Hart took to official X, formerly Twitter, where he shared some high praise for the righty.

“Schlitty is the Cy Young winner hands down.”

The reaction matters more because the “Hart” of the Knicks has tied himself to the moment for the city. He and Jalen Brunson threw out ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium earlier in the week, bringing even more crossover energy between the city’s championship basketball team and its perennial AL contender.

Schlittler appreciated the support.

“That’s a good thing to hear,” Schlittler said postgame, per The Associated Press’ Larry Fleisher. “Josh is a great guy. I talked to him after the first playoff game. I’m pumped for him and the city of New York just being able to finish that off, and it’s great to have his support.”

The numbers matched the attention.

Schlittler leaned on premium velocity and command, using his four-seam fastball, cutter, and sinker to overwhelm Cincinnati. His four-seamer averaged 97.9 mph, and he generated strikeouts with all three fastball variations. He also threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of 23 hitters, giving the Reds very little room to settle in.

The start marked a new regular-season career high in strikeouts for Schlittler, who had previously topped out at nine. It also brought back memories of his breakout postseason moment against the Boston Red Sox, when he struck out 12 over eight innings in the deciding game of last year’s AL Wild Card Series.

At 25 years and 134 days old, Schlittler became the youngest Yankees pitcher to record 13 strikeouts in a game since Al Downing reached that mark in 1964. That kind of company does not automatically make him a Cy Young favorite, but it does show how quickly his ceiling has changed.

The Yankees also gave him early support. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice homered in the second inning, giving Schlittler enough cushion to attack the zone. From there, New York’s bullpen protected the shutout and finished off one of the team’s sharper all-around wins of the season.

For the Yankees, the bigger takeaway goes beyond one night. Schlittler is not just flashing anymore. He is missing bats, limiting damage, and showing the kind of mound presence that plays in October.

Hart’s Cy Young statement may have had New York flair, but Schlittler’s start made it feel a little less outrageous.

For more coverage across the sports world, watch the full OutOfSightSports 2026 NBA Lottery Mock Draft on YouTube, featuring lottery fits, prospect breakdowns, and the biggest roster-building questions across the league.

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Former teammate calls Bucks’ Lillard move ‘outrageous’ after $103M contract stretch

Josh Hart didn’t hold back when asked about the Milwaukee Bucks’ stunning decision to waive Damian Lillard this summer.

Speaking on The Roommates Show podcast, the Knicks guard reacted strongly to the news that the Bucks had waived and stretched the remaining $103 million on Lillard’s contract.

“This is Dame,” Hart said. “This is Damian Lillard, and it’s just the stuff that’s going on now is crazy.”

Milwaukee’s decision came after Lillard suffered a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the team’s first-round loss to Indiana. With limited cap flexibility, the Bucks chose to waive the seven-time All-Star on July 1 and stretch his remaining salary to open space for free-agent center Myles Turner, who they signed to a four-year, $107 million deal.

What many expected to be a drawn-out free agency process for Lillard ended quickly. The veteran point guard has since signed a three-year, $42 million deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers — the franchise where he spent the first 11 years of his career and became a legend.

Hart played briefly with Lillard in Portland from 2022 to early 2023 and clearly still holds his former teammate in high regard. His reaction echoes the sentiment of many around the league, who were stunned to see Lillard cut loose just one year after arriving in Milwaukee.

Lillard’s move back to Portland gives him stability during his recovery, and it reunites him with a franchise where he remains a beloved figure. He’s expected to miss most of the 2025–26 season but will continue rehabbing in an organization built around familiarity and support.

As for Milwaukee, the decision to part with Lillard after just one year — and stretch over $100 million of his contract — adds pressure to a front office now banking on Turner and internal development to keep them competitive in the East.

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Knicks Rout Celtics in Game 6 to Reach First Eastern Conference Finals Since 2000

May 16th, 2025

The last time the Knicks made it this far? The year 2000. Now, they stand just four wins away from the NBA Finals.

The momentum shift in the series appeared to coincide with a major setback for Boston. Star forward Jayson Tatum suffered a serious lower leg injury during Game 4, a blow first reported by The Athletic. His absence loomed large in Game 6, as the Celtics struggled to find rhythm or offensive leadership. Without Tatum’s scoring and playmaking, Boston looked a step slow, and the Knicks pounced.

New York’s strategy was crystal clear: smother Boston from the opening tip. The Knicks’ perimeter defense, led by Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, delivered a clinic in containment and disruption. As highlighted by ESPN, both players disrupted passing lanes, challenged shots, and set the tone with physical defense that the Celtics never adjusted to. Boston’s offense stalled under the pressure, managing just 81 points—their lowest output of the postseason.

After lackluster showings in Games 3 and 4 where he totaled only 16 points, Josh Hart flipped the script. He logged a triple-double in Game 6: 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Hart’s energy, hustle, and clutch decision-making lifted the Knicks and symbolized their all-around team effort.

Jalen Brunson dropped 23 points in the series-clinching win, continuing his playoff brilliance. Karl-Anthony Towns added another efficient 20+ point game, following his 32-point explosion in Game 4. Both stars have anchored the Knicks’ offense and silenced any doubts about their ability to perform under postseason pressure.

The Knicks led by as many as 37 points in Game 6, a stark contrast to earlier series struggles—especially Game 3, where their defense was shredded by Boston’s pick-and-roll execution. But adjustments, intensity, and a roaring home crowd turned the tide. From tip-off to the final buzzer, New York outclassed Boston in every facet.

By dispatching the Celtics—last year’s champions—the Knicks have emerged as legitimate contenders in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Once labeled a team with a limited postseason ceiling, they’ve broken through with purpose, poise, and a belief that this run is far from over.

Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers tips off Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. It’s a throwback matchup that rekindles a fierce 1990s rivalry. This time, the stakes are sky-high—and the Knicks are no longer underdogs.

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